By By Scottye Carter/The Meridian Star
May 30, 2001
The Women's Build Habitat for Humanity meeting Tuesday kicked off the organization's newest project, but this particular project is far from typical for Habitat.
The house to be renovated by the Women's Build volunteers is located behind Point Rexall on 25th Avenue. It was anonymously donated to Habitat, and a new roof has already been added by Habitat workers. The home is registered in the National Register of Historic Places, and in need of a few repairs. The Habitat volunteers plan to fix water damage, paint inside and out, and touch up the hardwood floors.
The Women's Build group anticipates hiring five to six interior decorators to redesign one room each, and landscapers will rejuvenate the yard.
In early October, when the house is finished, tour tickets will be sold. The group plans to throw two house parties, also for fund-raising, with potential guests including Linda and Willard Fuller, founders of Habitat, and former president Jimmy Carter.
Tuesday's meeting introduced the new project to a group of both experienced and inexperienced women volunteers. This year, the 100,000th house was built by Habitat in the U.S., and in Meridian, three houses will be completed by the end of June.
About 50 percent of those who volunteer for Habitat are women, but most of those women are involved with the food committees and fund-raising. Meridian's Women's Build group was formed in 1998 to give women a chance to wield a hammer.
The next meeting for this project will be June 26, and more volunteers are needed. For more information, call Habitat for Humanity at 485-4992.
Scottye Carter is a staff writer for The Meridian Star.